TALLANGATTA’S finals hopes are all bar shot following a 58-point thumping at the hands of Thurgoona.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The reigning premiers simply couldn’t keep up with the Bulldogs in the second half.
Thurgoona piled on 11 goals in the third quarter to have the match all bar sewn up at the last change, ultimately claiming a 21.14.140 to 11.16.82 win.
Ruckman Jamarl O’Sullivan was deployed in the forward line to great success, jagging three first-quarter goals and stretching the undersized Hoppers backline.
Kade Brown and Lucas Mellier were absentees for the Dogs but their presence was not required as Jayden Kotzur combined with young guns Joel Roberson, Ben Lloyd and Darcy Moore to dominate through the midfield.
The win, Thurgoona’s 10th on the trot, keeps their hopes of seizing a top two spot from either Kiewa-Sandy Creek or Mitta alive.
Bulldogs co-coach Peter Copley said Thurgoona’s size advantage had been crucial.
“They’re a good side, we knew they were going to start well and the first quarter was pretty even,” he said.
“But we kept getting on top, we kept putting pressure on them and our skill and the evenness of our team got us over the line.
“Jamarl looked good forward, we knew they were a little bit small, not that big-bodied down there so playing him out of the goal-square would be a bit different.”
Tallangatta forward ace James Breen looked lively in the first half, booting two goals, but Copley said he was pleased with the move to put Mark Haydon on him after that.
Tim Brook booted three goals for the Hoppers, but it was nowhere near enough to keep pace with Thurgoona's second half acceleration.
Todd Miller and Jacob Bruce finished with four goals each to go with bags of three for O'Sullivan, Lloyd and Kotzur.
In other matches at the weekend, Mitta were made to work for the points against Chiltern, ultimately getting away with a 52-37 win.
Craig Lieschke and Darcy Eaton kicked two goals each for Mitta.
Rutherglen saw off a spirited challenge from Beechworth thanks to a seven goal to two burst in the third quarter.
Barnawartha thumped Yackandandah by 84 points thanks to a six goal haul from Jarrod Williams, while Yackandandah's Trent Castles finished with four.
Kiewa-Sandy Creek thumped Dederang-Mt Beauty, while Wahgunyah crushed the Wodonga Saints to bank their sixth win.
We kept getting on top, we kept putting pressure on them and our skill and the evenness of our team got us over the line.
- Peter Copley
